A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, reminds me a lot of Ringo Starr.

Rumi’s poems and Ringo’s songs share a common trait: instant accessibility. You don’t have to wade through tortured metaphors and footnoted cultural references to figure out what they’re trying to say.

The poem above gets straight to the point, then gets out. You could say the same about this song Ringo Starr penned: LINK.

Mona and I went to see Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band last night at the Verizon Theatre in Dallas. We bought the tickets the same day they went on sale, and were really looking forward to it.

But it was weird.

It was like watching two totally different concerts. Ringo was everything I wanted him to be: his voice was in good form, he was charismatic and energetic, and just created a very positive vibe.

So his forty minutes were absolutely fantastic.

The problem was the other two hours, when people who were Not Ringo were singing. Their music was so different than his that it was jarring, and broke the spell. That’s why as a concert experience it just didn’t work.

It was ultimately a disappointment. I don’t think I’d buy a ticket again.